The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-12-26
SIXTY THOUSAND MEN
AFFECTED pY TIE GREAT srn1KE
of Reading Railroad Coal Handiets-I.
VIII Leave Eastern Cities without a
supply OF Coal from tho Anthracite
Negions--various Other Strikes,

tALeateub " De tne m0Bt serious strike that
has occurred in the East in years began at
midnight on the Philadelphia & Reading
railroad systems. Thetrouble will involve
directly sixty thousand men. On Thurs.
day crew was discharged at Taylol's Gle.
vator, on the Delaware river, because It
would not handle flour along with Bcab
crew that had been hired by the elevator
owner. On Friday two thousand cosl.
passers, firemen and engineern struck DO.
cause the elevator oNnera perslated in en-
ploying scab labor. Yesterday afternoon
a convention Of the employees OF the com.
pany was held here, and 1t was decided 10
order out all the irelght.haudlors, eng.
neers, coal.minerS and all the employees
except those running the passenger trains,
The most serious feature Of this affair Ia
that 1t cuts of the coal supply OF Philadel-
phia and the eastern cities. There ia not
more than one weeks aupply hore, and
there 10 no telling what the prices will b..
Apart from the famine that is threatened,
this trouble is to test the strength Of the
Knights Of Labor and to show whether
they will run the road or whether Preai-
dent Austin Corbin will manage it, OF
the sixty thousand men ordered out TO.
day, thirty thousand are coal miners in
the schuylkill region. AS the Lehigh re-
gion has not been at work since September
the reasons Tor coal famine are apparent,
The hrat convention Of the new District
Assembly Of Reading railroad employees
was held here yesterday afternoon, the
meeting having been hurrielly called 10
consider the troubles which have ariaen
among the coal handlers at Port Richmond
and Elizsbe!hport during the past lew
days.
About seventy.6ve delegates wero In at
tendance, representing every branch OF
employees Of the road, rom the coal hand.
lerB to the miners, and including all classes
Of trainmen. After four hours delibera-
tlon, an order was issued for a general
strike on all lines operated by the Read.
ing Company, with the exception OF those
In the passenger service, the orter to in
clnde all employees at the Uompany's
mines.
The order will effect nearly sixty thou
sand men. Committees from Port Rich
mor6 and E!'zabsshpo.t presented their
grievances 10 the Convention. The repre-.
sent't!ves from EBz.5elhport stated that
the Knights there were discharged for
reiusin2 10 load Coke Broe.' bsree. They
bad understood that the Reading Company
was no. 10 interfere in tho Lehiph strike,
but to load Coke Bros barge would be
aiding the Lehigh operatoys, and this the
men refused to do while many schuylkill
barses were lying idle at the piers.
They stated that one hundred and fifty
men had been discharged, the officials re-
fusing to settle the matter by arbitration.
A similar complaint Of refusal OF the
ofii icials to arbitrate was presented by the
Port Richmond Representatives. Tho
convention then went into executive ees.
sion and upon its conclusion announced
that there would be general tie-up Of all
the mines and all the freight and coal
trains on the road. It was stated Iurther
that tns passepgermen would also be or.
dered out soon II it should be found
necessary.
The miners are in sympathy with the
railroad men and will refuse to mine coal
should tho company endeavor to place
nou.union men on the road.
The following notice was issued last
night, signed by General Manager Mcleod,
Of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad
Company:
".Wosk will be resumed on Tuesday
morning, December 27, at the Port Rich.
mond yard. Employees will report for
duty at that time. Ths places Of such as
do not report will be filled by other men.
The men discharged for disobedience Of
orders in refusing to moye trains to the
place OF their destination will not bs per.
mitted to enter tho service OF the company
In any capacity.
Tho msn declare that If thoy did not
gain their point they will take more az
gressive steps and will extend the struggle
to every branch Of the scrvice with tbs
single exception Of the United States mail
trains. The situation tonight remsins
absolutely unchanged, IN